We are an independent membership organisation which aims to represent and champion the interests of museums and galleries in the North West, and the people who work in them, on both a regional and a national level.

Membership is open to all people working, volunteering or with a professional interest in museums, art galleries and heritage organisations in the North West and Isle of Man. The NWFED welcomes staff and volunteers from all areas of activity.

If you are already a member you can follow our programme of events and training as well as other national and regional networking opportunities. You can also take a look at what is happening on our news blog and let us know what you think too.

If you are not a member you can find out about the benefits of membership and join here

NWFED NEWS: Introducing New NWFED Board Member – Andy Pearce

Andy Pearce has over 30 years experience in the museum sector in the North West in roles ranging from Education Officer to Director. He has worked in a wide range of heritage organisations from small independents to large nationals, from charitable trusts to local authorities and has had responsibility for the care and display of […]

NWFED NEWS: Introducing New Board Member – Rebecca Miles

Originally from America, Rebecca Miles is now permanently settled in the UK. Before moving to the UK in 2013, she worked for the University of Kentucky as an archaeologist excavating and surveying prehistoric and historic sites throughout the state of Kentucky. After arriving in the UK, she started building up her skills and experiences by […]

NWFED NEWS: Introducing New Board Member – Claire Benjamin

Claire Benjamin is Deputy Director of the Education and Visitors teams at National Museums Liverpool, which includes the International Slavery Museum, Merseyside Maritime Museum, Museum of Liverpool, World Museum, Walker Art Gallery, Sudley House and the Lady Lever Art Gallery. She is responsible for the strategic development of education initiatives, community engagement and front of house […]

NWFED NEWS: Introducing New Board Member – Gordon Chancellor

Gordon Chancellor moved to Stockport in February 2019 from the East of England, where he had been the Museum Development Officer (MDO) for Cambridgeshire since 2013. Gordon is now freelance and keen to work with museums in the North West. His museum career started as a geologist at the Oxford University Museum in the 1980s, […]

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: MDNW’s Demystifying Funding Programme

When: Session 1 – Wednesday 25th September and Session 2 – Friday 22 November Where: Chetham’s Library, Manchester and Lancashire Conservation Studios, Preston How Much: Free Funding continues to be a hot topic for museums across the UK – how to secure it, ethical fundraising and what is the best use of scarce resources. Here in […]

BLOG POST: NWFed Meeting at Manchester Museum, 28 June 2019

Last Friday we were treated to a brilliant double session themed on Asia and hosted by Manchester Museum. Catherine Lumb, Learning and Engagement Co-ordinator, told us about the current exhibition from India, then Bryan Sitch, Deputy Head of Collections and Archaeology, described his research in advance of planned displays about China. Bryan said that the arrival of […]

NEWS: New-look National Lottery Heritage Fund unveils plans for the next five years

A major decentralisation of decision-making across the whole of the UK is at the heart of new plans to distribute more than £1 Billion of National Lottery money to the UK’s heritage over the next five years which will see decisions on around 80% of all funding by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (previously the […]